The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-22
MARK TWAIN AS A CUB.
Captain Bixby Tells How the Humorfse
Learned the Mississippi River.


Captain Bixby Tells How the Humorist
Learned the Mississippi River.
Chicago Tribune.
steamer City of Baton Rouge, is the most popu-
lar man Cd Southern waters. Captain Blxoy Is
well preserved relic of the golden age OF the
river, and has been a constant student OF cur
rents and chutes for forty years. Horace Blxoy
is the man who taught Mark Twain how to steer
steamboat and the success OF ms wniiom CUP
That was away back in the fifties. when Bixby
was a pilot, and after all these years he Is now
of the opinion that pilot Is bigger man than
captain any day. and especially on dark
night in a tight place. Captain Bixby is now six
ty-one years of age, and he says: Il am just
nine and half years older than Sam Clemens"
When in a reminiscent mood the other day he
said
ut was quite remarkable how Sam Clemens
happened to become pilot. He has written a
great deal about it himself, but don't believe
he ever told it all 1t was in the spring OF 81
was then running regular between st. Louis
and New Orleans and occasionally doing an
an outside job on the Ohio river from Cincinnati
to New Orleans. It was on one of these out
side trips that first met Clemens. WAS TAX
ing the Paul Jones down from Cincinnati and
he passenger board. In those days
the pilos-house was great loafng place for
passengers and pilots out of work. They came
in, spit all the Wheel snapped lies, and
then left the pilot on duty to slosh around in the
debris didn't like it Bit and was mighty short
with all passengers who attempted to talk With
aud No. 30 in the Mississippi river; and
were booming along at good gait, a young man
walked into the pilot house. and, after watching
me for few minutes, said God morning.
in a drawing manner.
II said, good morning mighty sharp. think
ing it would freeze him out. But it didn't. He
said:
Don't You want boy to learn
the r-i-v-e-rp
''No. don't want any boy olearn the river.
What are you pulling your words that way
forP
"T don't know, you will have to ask
my mother She does the Same
thing
II thought he was chatting me when he said
that, and looked up, but his face was just as
sober as preachers. He then asked me if |
knew the Bowens who the river. I
told him that did, and worked with one of
them in 1858 He told that the Bowens
lived next door to his father, Judge Clemens, of
Hannibal, Mo. In his drawing way he told me
of his plans He had learned printing at Han
nibal on his brothers paper, but il did not agree
with him, and he going to South America
for his health. He liked the river. however,
and would abandon his projected invasion of
South America for an opportunity to become
pilot.
'''There is only thing that would induce
me to teach you the river said l.
"'W-h-a-t's t-h-a-tP he asked
"'Money.' said l.
Money! he echoed.
That's just it, l answered.
clio m-u-c-hP he gasped.
" Five hundred dollars, I said.
"'Wen 1 Amt got that much, said he
Then you better get It'll you want to learn
the river replied.
I've got Gig ht lots up in K-e-o-k-u-k, Iowa,
but don't know what they would bring, an
I've got ZOO acres OF Land in Tennessee that I
can get % cents for, said he summing
up his assets. We talked for some time, aud he
impressed me very favorably. 1t was finally
agreed that he was to pay me 800 down. and
$75 every six months until the debt paid. 1
told him he would have provide his own
clothes and board while port On the river
he would receive his board and lodging free. He
started in as cub on the Aleck Scott, and he
learned rapidly He was then just past twenty
one, and rather eccentric. He always had
writing paper and pencil around the pilot house,
and was eternally scrbblng away at something.
1 seldom ever tried to Investigate the mysteries
of his manuscript, but soon turned his talent
to good account. In those days pilots made out
reports of the condition Of the channel and
Clemens at once developed into brilliant and
picturesque river reporter. His reports were
humorous and contained all the Information
and were frequently copied into the papers just
as be wrote them. This. think. waS the first
public writing that he did. except. perhaps,
some squibs for the Hannibal paper. He was
a good boy. not addicted dissipation, and
obeyed orders. He hated suspenders, and used
to enjoy himself in very loose clothes, with his
many trips, and then he changed around and in
two years received a license that made him a
ull-fedged piloc. His first boat was the Alonzo
Child, under Captain De Haven, and he kept
turning the wheel until the war broke out His
boat was then in the South andehe plloted three
months for the Confederacy Then he got
through the lines and went home, but after a
short stay at Hannibal he went a volunteer
for three months in the army of Gen. Sterling
Price the Missouri confederate. He fought for
the Confederacy three more months land,
and then reiterated in good order, with his right
resting on St. Louis. His brother. Orrin Glenn
ems, was at that time nominated Secretary of the
Territory of Nevada, and Sam accompanied him
West Every body knows the rest"